Munitions with shattering penetrator cartridge case

ABSTRACT

A cartridge case projectile ( 10 ), comprising a cartridge case ( 12 ) and a shattering penetrator ( 14 ) arranged in the cartridge case ( 12 ). The shattering penetrator ( 14 ) has a penetrator casing ( 20 ), which can be broken into at least two casing sections ( 22*, 24* ) upon impact of the shattering penetrator ( 14 ), to which end a predetermined casing breaking area ( 23* ) is respectively arranged between two adjoining casing sections ( 22*, 24* ). A central conduit ( 30 ) is arranged in the penetrator casing ( 20 ), in which a penetrator core ( 26 ) is received, whose core tip element ( 26.4 ) projects out of the penetrator casing ( 20 ) and constitutes a penetrator tip. The plastic material forming the penetrator core ( 26 ) is introduced into the conduit in a flowable state. The penetrator casing ( 20 ) is secured against break-up into the casing sections ( 22*, 24* ) by the penetrator core ( 26 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from and incorporates byreference the subject matter of Swiss Patent Application 2000 2279/00filed Nov. 23, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to munitions with a cartridge case and ashattering penetrator, which has a penetrator casing and a penetratorcore in a conduit and is arranged in the cartridge case.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Shattering penetrators are used as training munitions. They aredesigned in such a way that they demonstrate accuracy in hitting onimpact, but do no cause great damage in the target area; in particularit is intended to minimize the impact, or ricochet, effects. Basically,cartridge case projectiles are used for firing sub-caliber munitions.Munitions with shattering penetrator cartridge cases are used astraining munitions, because they allow the firing of munitions of smallcaliber by means of weapons which do not need to be refitted fortraining purposes, i.e. must be equipped with weapon tubes or weapontube inserts. It is obvious that cartridge case projectiles withsub-caliber shattering penetrators constitute the optimal trainingmunitions.

[0004] Such cartridge case projectiles with sub-caliber shatteringpenetrators are known, for example, from EP-0 989 381-A2. They haveproven themselves in actual use, but are comparatively expensive toproduce.

[0005] A projectile in the form of a full-caliber shattering penetratoris known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,074. The penetrator has a penetratorcasing made of steel and a penetrator core made of a plastic material.The penetrator casing is cup-shaped and encloses the rear part of thepenetrator core, while the front part of the penetrator core protrudesout of the penetrator casing. The penetrator casing has grooves on itscircumference, which constitute predetermined breaking points. Thebreak-up of the penetrator casing into several casing elements isintended to occur upon impact. As mentioned above, this is afull-caliber projectile, which does not have a cartridge case. Thereforea premature break-up of the penetrator casing into its casing elementscan only be prevented by the penetrator core itself, since there is nocartridge case cover which aids in preventing the break-up of the casingelements during loading the projectile into the weapon tube, from whichit is to be fired, as well as during firing. Therefore, to prevent thepremature break-up into casing elements, the predetermined breakingpoints are only suggested and have almost no weakening effect. Theresult of this is that the desired break-up into casing elements onimpact also does not take place assuredly. Therefore the use of thisscattering penetrator in a sub-caliber projectile would not bring thedesired result, namely the assured break-up at any impact angle.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Starting with the prior art in accordance with EP-0 989 381-A2,it is therefore the object of the present invention to create animproved cartridge case projectile with a sub-caliber scatteringpenetrator, which is simpler to produce than the already known cartridgecase projectiles of this type, and which is at least equallyadvantageous in its usage.

[0007] In accordance with the invention, this object is attained inconnection with a cartridge case projectile of the type mentioned at theoutset by providing a penetrator casing with a penetrator coreconstituted by a plastic material which has been introduced in aflowable state into a conduit of the penetrator casing.

[0008] Preferred further developments of the cartridge case projectileof the invention are defined in the specification.

[0009] The novel cartridge case projectile with the sub-calibershattering penetrator is optimal in production as well as in use.

[0010] On impact, the projector casing breaks up into several casingelements at the predetermined casing breaking points, so that theundesired ricochet effect is reduced, since the individual partialmasses are reduced in comparison to the total mass, and the airresistance is increased.

[0011] Preferably the partial masses into which the casing elementsbreak up are approximately identical, because of which the ricocheteffect as a whole is reduced.

[0012] The penetrator core is designed in such a way that it assuredlykeeps the casing elements of the penetrator casing and, in case of apenetrator casing composed of several casing elements these casingelements, together, while the cartridge case projectile is conveyed tothe weapon tube, is fired and while it is in flight, but does not hamperthe break-up of the casing elements upon impact.

[0013] A break-up into the casing elements is assured by the areas ofpredetermined breaking points located between them, which essentiallyextend along the circumference, but are not necessarily located inplanes vertically in respect to the longitudinal axis of the cartridgecase projectile.

[0014] The penetrator core alone could assure the break-up of thepenetrator casing into the casing elements during flight. To overcomethe stresses being created during the conveyance to the weapon tube andupon firing, the cartridge casing cover also aids in preventing thebreak-up of the penetrator casing.

[0015] As already mentioned, the penetrator casing can be made of one orseveral casing elements, for example a front casing element and a rearcasing element.

[0016] If the penetrator casing has several casing elements, these arepreferably directly connected with each other, for example by a threadedsection, gluing, soldering or any other connection known per se.However, the casing elements are also indirectly connected with eachother by the penetrator core and, prior to their separation from thecartridge case after leaving the weapon tube, by the cartridge casing.

[0017] Predetermined casing breaking points are formed, for example, byareas of the penetrator casing having a reduced wall thickness and/or asudden change in the wall thickness, or which are made of a materialdifferent from the rest of the penetrator core.

[0018] Preferably, not only does the penetrator casing havepredetermined casing breaking points, but the penetrator core also haspredetermined core breaking points, which adjoin the predeterminedcasing breaking points.

[0019] Moreover, the penetrator core can have a predetermined tipbreaking area located in the area of the back end of the penetrator tip.

[0020] The various casing elements can be made from the same or fromdifferent materials.

[0021] The penetrator core preferably is made of a highly heat-resistantplastic material. Generally this plastic material is filled withsuitable particles by means of which it is possible, inter alia, toaffect its brittleness when in its state of use. In any case, thepenetrator core is made from a material which is flowable duringproduction. In this case it can be a fluid, or pasty, material, which isshaped by means of pressure or injection molding processes. Possibly apowder-like mass could also be used, which afterwards is combined by theapplication of pressure and/or heat to form a solid body.

[0022] The scattering process is affected by a plurality of parameters,in particular by the configuration of the predetermined casing breakingpoint and the predetermined core breaking point, furthermore by theabsolute and relative diameter of the penetrator casing and thepenetrator core, and by the choice of a suitable plastic material forthe penetrator core.

[0023] The invention will be extensively described in what follows bymeans of an exemplary embodiment, while making reference to thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024]FIG. 1 is a sectional view, containing the longitudinal axis ofthe projectile, of a cartridge case projectile with a shatteringpenetrator in accordance with the invention,

[0025]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the cartridge case projectile withthe shattering penetrator represented in FIG. 1,

[0026]FIG. 3 represents the shattering penetrator of the cartridge caseprojectile shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in a sectional view, containing thelongitudinal axis of the projectile,

[0027]FIG. 4 shows a detail of the shattering penetrator represented inFIG. 3 in an enlarged view,

[0028]FIG. 5 shows the penetrator casing of a further shatteringpenetrator in a sectional view, containing the longitudinal axis of theprojectile,

[0029]FIG. 6A shows a shattering penetrator in flight, and

[0030]FIG. 6B shows the shattering penetrator represented in FIG. 6Aafter impact.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0031]FIGS. 1 and 2 show a cartridge case projectile 10, which isessentially constituted by a cartridge case 12 and a sub-calibershattering penetrator 14 with a chamber 18, which is covered by a cover16 in the form of a small plate, wherein the chamber 18 is used forcontaining the tracer set, for example. The arrangement of a tracer set,or the chamber 18 intended for that, is not mandatory.

[0032] The cartridge case 12 can be designed, for example, in the way,or similar to the way, of a previously known cartridge case described inEP-0 989 281-A, i.e. only with a cartridge case cover, but without aseparate cartridge case bottom. On its inside, the cartridge case 12 hasring-shaped projections 12.1, between which anchoring flutes are formed;the ring-shaped projections 12.1 protrude into complementary annulargrooves, or anchoring flutes 14.1 on the exterior of the shatteringpenetrator 14. The cartridge case 12 is divided into several segments12.2, which are connected with each other by means of predeterminedcartridge case breaking areas 12.3.

[0033] In accordance with FIG. 3, the sub-caliber shattering penetrator14 comprises a penetrator casing 20 which, in the present exemplaryembodiment, is made from a front casing element 22 and a rear casingelement 24, as well as from a penetrator core 26.

[0034] The front casing element 22 essentially has the shape of atruncated cone in a front section 22.1 and has a cylindrical border in arear section 22.2, while the rear casing element 24 is essentiallybordered in a cylindrical manner, wherein the exterior diameters of therear section 22.2 of the front casing element 22 and the rear casingelement 24 are equal. The front casing element 22 has an interior threadat the rear, the rear casing element 24 has an exterior thread in itsfront area; the interior thread and the exterior thread form a screwedconnection 23, by means of which the casing elements 22 and 24 aredirectly connected with each other.

[0035] The already mentioned outer circumferential flutes 14.1 arearranged on both casing elements 22 and 24 and are intended to be filledwith the material of the cartridge case cover 12 in such a way that thecasing elements 22 and 24 are connected indirectly by the cartridge casecover 12 prior to and during firing.

[0036] The casing elements 22 and 24 can also be differently shaped andconnected with each other differently from the way described above. Forexample, the rear casing element can have a changing diameter, and thecasing elements can also be designed to be stepped. The connection ofthe two casing elements can also be performed by soldering, gluing,crimping or by any other known joining process, instead of screwing. Inother embodiments of the cartridge case projectile of the invention, thepenetrator casing can be made, for example, from only one casingelement, or from more than two casing elements. As a whole, penetratorcasings with only a single casing element can be produced moreefficiently, and the process step of the mutual connection is omitted.

[0037] In accordance with FIG. 3, the penetrator casing 20 has apredetermined casing breaking area 23*. With the present cartridgecasing projectile 10, this predetermined casing breaking area 23* islocated at the rear casing element 24 directly behind the exteriorthread. The predetermined casing breaking area 23* is designed andarranged in such a way that upon shattering the penetrator casing 20breaks up there into a front casing section 22* and a rear casingsection 24*.

[0038] In the present case the front casing section 22* and the rearcasing section 24* are almost, but not completely, identical to thefront casing element 22, or the rear casing element 24. However, this isnot mandatory, basically the penetrator casing can be produced from anarbitrary number of casing elements and can be broken up into anarbitrary second number of penetrator elements. However, it is efficientto put the penetrator casing together from the fewest possible casingelements while, in view of the functioning, as many as possiblepredetermined casing breaking points, or as many as possible casingelements are often preferred.

[0039] In regard to FIG. 3 it should be pointed out that the referencenumerals shown in the right half of the shattering penetrator 14represented there relate to the front casing element 22 and the rearcasing element 24, while the reference numerals shown in the left halfrelate to the front casing section 22* and the rear casing section 24*,which are created upon break-up, as well as the predetermined casingbreaking area 23*.

[0040] As FIG. 4 shows, in the present exemplary embodiment thepenetrator casing 20, or the rear casing element 24, has a ring-shapedgroove 25 on its exterior for forming the predetermined casing breakingarea 23*, because of which the remaining wall thickness becomesextremely thin, namely so thin that the predetermined casing breakingarea 23* is practically foil-like. To prevent damage to thispredetermined casing breaking area 23* in the course of introducing theflowable mass under pressure for the penetrator core 26, it may becomenecessary to produce the ring-shaped groove only after the penetratorcore 26 has been introduced. The predetermined casing breaking area 23*is arranged in such a way that is subjected to a notching effectstarting from the interior of the penetrator casing 20.

[0041] The predetermined casing breaking area 23* can also be producedin a way known to anyone skilled in the art by means of the propertiesof the material instead of the properties of the shape, or by means of acombination of the properties of material and shape of the penetratorcasing 20. For example, the casing elements 22 and 24 can be connectedby means of an adhesive area, which constitutes the predetermined casingbreaking area 23*, with such a configuration, the front casing element22 would be identical with the front casing section 22*, and the rearcasing element 24 with the rear casing section 24*.

[0042] The front casing section 22* and the rear casing section 24*,both inclusive of the longitudinal section of the penetrator core 26received in them, in an advantageous, but not mandatory manner, haveapproximately the same mass, which means that the heavier of the twocasing sections 22*, 24* constitutes at most two-thirds of the totalmass of the two casing sections 22*, 24*.

[0043] A continuous central opening is arranged in the front casingelement 22, which can be produced by means of a bore, for example, andwhich constitutes the front portion of a conduit 30, in which a centercore section 26.1 of the penetrator core 26 is received. Ring-shapedrecesses 30.1 are provided in the frontmost area of this conduit 30,which are filled with the material of the penetrator core 26. The rearcasing element 24 has a recess starting at its front face 24.1, whichconstitutes the rear portion of the conduit 30, but is not continuous,and in which the rear core section 26.2 of the penetrator core 30 isreceived. This recess has the largest diameter in its frontmost section,so that the penetrator core 26 forms a shoulder 26.3 there. This recesshas ring-shaped grooves in its center section, which are filled with thematerial of the penetrator core 26.

[0044] Moreover, the rear casing element 24 has a blind bore 32 startingat its rear face 24.2, which is intended to form a chamber 18 forreceiving a tracer set.

[0045] As described above, the rear portion of the conduit 30 isembodied to be stepped, and the front portion of the conduit 30 couldalso be embodied to be stepped. A more intimate connection between thepenetrator casing 20 and the penetrator core 26 is provided by such astepped design, and relative movements between the penetrator casing 20and the penetrator core 26 can be prevented in particular.Simultaneously, edge areas of the steps in the area of the predeterminedcasing breaking area 23* can exert the already mentioned notching effectand in this way aid the break-up of the penetrator core upon impact. Inthis case it is not necessary to produce the conduit 30 with greatprecision, since the penetrator core 26 must not be fitted by mechanicalprocessing, but is introduced in a flowable state.

[0046] The cross sections of the conduit 30 are circular in the presentexemplary embodiment; however, the conduit 30 could also have differentshapes, for example, the cross section of the conduit 30 could bepolygonal or star-like, or have a longitudinal groove in order toprevent a relative rotation between the penetrator core and thepenetrator casing.

[0047] The casing elements 22 and 24 can be produced from the same ordifferent materials, in particular from metallic materials such assteel, brass, bronze or aluminum, a suitable plastic material is alsopossible.

[0048] The penetrator core 26 has a core tip 26.4, which alsoconstitutes the tip of the shattering penetrator 14. Starting at thiscore tip 26.4, the already mentioned center core section 26.1 extendsrearward through the conduit 30 of the front casing element 22. Thecenter core section 26.1 has circumferential projections, which protrudeinto recesses of the front casing element 22. The rear core section26.2, projecting into the rear casing element 24, with the shoulder 26.3and circumferential projections, which protrude into the grooves of therear casing element 24, adjoins the center core section 26.1. Theprojections of the penetrator core 26 and the recesses, or grooves, ofthe penetrator casing 20 are used for connecting the casing elements 22,24 directly with the penetrator core 26, and therefore also indirectlywith each other.

[0049] The penetrator core 26 is designed in such a way that it meetsseveral, partially opposite requirements. Firstly, the penetrator core26 must be designed in a way that it connects the casing elements 22,24, or respectively the casing sections 22*, 24* in a such way, that theshattering penetrator 14 withstands the stresses during its conveyanceto and into a weapon tube, during firing and after firing, or in flight,without the penetrator casing 20 breaking up in the predetermined casingbreaking area 23* before impact, and in particular in a case where thetrajectory of the penetrator 14 is subjected to initial perturbations.Although the casing elements 22, 24 are connected by the screwedconnection 23, without the penetrator core 26 the penetrator casing 20would prematurely break up into the casing sections 22*, 24*, inparticular when stressed transversely to the longitudinal axis A of thecartridge casing projectile 10, i.e. with comparatively extendedtrajectories. Secondly, the penetrator core 26 must be designed in sucha way that, when the penetrator 14 impacts, its shattering, or thebreak-up of the penetrator casing 20 into the casing sections 22*, 24*,is not hindered, in particular, the shattering, or the break-up of thepenetrator casing 20 is to be assured also if the shattering penetrator14 impacts at an obtuse angle, since the ricochet effect is minimized bythe break-up of the penetrator 14 into several parts. To assist this,the penetrator core 26 has a predetermined core breaking area 27adjoining the predetermined casing breaking area 23* of the penetratorcasing 20, which is produced in that the diameter of the penetrator core26 abruptly changes without rounding. Moreover, the front casing element22 is shaped in such a way that a predetermined tip breaking area 28 isformed between the center core section 26.1 and the penetrator tip 26.4.

[0050] As already mentioned, the penetrator casing of the describedexemplary embodiments can be produced from steel, bronze, brass, oranother suitable materials.

[0051] The penetrator core is produced from a suitable plastic material,which need not be an industrial plastic, such as nylon. A highlyheat-resistant plastic material, for example PEI, PPS or PEEK, wasselected for the penetrator core in the described exemplary embodiments.This plastic material preferably contains suitable fillers. Fibers, forexample carbon fibers and/or glass fibers, glass beads, powdered mineralrock or other suitable particles such as powder or chips, for example oftungsten or bronze, can be used. By means of the choice of the fillersand possibly by their strictly local arrangement in individual areas ofthe penetrator core, it is possible in a limited way to affect the massof the penetrator, the mass distribution inside the penetrator and thepartial masses into which the penetrator breaks at impact.

[0052] The projectile is advantageously configured in such a way thatthe plastic material for the penetrator core can be introduced into thepenetrator casing without a feed or air opening being required in therear area of the penetrator casing; thus, the penetrator casing isclosed in the rear area and completely surrounds the plastic of thepenetrator core; therefore no additional component is necessary forshielding the penetrator core from the hot propulsion gases.

[0053] A penetrator casing 20 which consists of a single casing elementis represented in FIG. 5, but which otherwise is essentially embodiedthe same and is provided with the same reference numerals as thepenetrator casing represented in FIG. 3. The penetrator casing 20 has aforward conical casing area 20.1 and a rear cylindrical casing area20.2, in which the predetermined breaking area 23* is arranged. Theexterior surface of the penetrator casing 20 has circumferential flutes14.1, and the stepped conduit 30 provided in the penetrator casing 20,as well as the blind bore 32, are designed to be identical to thepenetrator casing described above in connection with FIG. 3.

[0054]FIG. 6A shows a shattering penetrator 14 during flight, namelyfollowing the separation from the cartridge case, not represented, butprior to impact on a target area. The penetrator core 26 with the coretip 26.4, which also constitutes the tip of the shattering penetrator14, are clearly visible. The front casing section 22* and the rearcasing section 24* are connected via the predetermined breaking area23*. The casing sections 22*, 24* and the penetrator core 26 form anintegral object. FIG. 6B represents the same shattering penetrator 14after impact; the shattering penetrator, which originally wasconstituted as an integral object, has broken up into three partialobjects, namely the core tip 26.4, the front casing section 22* with thecenter core section 26.1 received therein, and the rear casing section24* with the rear core section 26.2 received therein. A small portion ofthe penetrator core 26 protrudes from the rear casing section 24*; thisshows that, as expected, in the present example the breaking face of thepenetrator core 26 does not coincide exactly with the breaking face ofthe penetrator casing 20.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cartridge case projectile, having a cartridgecase and a shattering penetrator arranged in the cartridge case, whichhas a penetrator casing which, when the shattering penetrator impacts,can be broken into at least two casing sections, to which end apredetermined casing breaking area is respectively arranged between theadjoining casing sections, and which has a central conduit, as well as apenetrator core received in the conduit, whose core tip elementprotrudes from the penetrator casing and constitutes a penetrator tip,characterized in that the material constituting the penetrator core is aplastic material, which has been introduced into the conduit in aflowable state.
 2. The cartridge case projectile in accordance withclaim 1, characterized in that the predetermined casing breaking area iscoherent.
 3. The cartridge case projectile in accordance with claim 1,characterized in that the casing sections, including the core sectionsreceived in them, have at least approximately identical masses.
 4. Thecartridge case projectile in accordance with claim 1, characterized inthat the predetermined casing breaking areas are constituted by areas ofthe penetrator casing of reduced casing wall strengths.
 5. The cartridgecase projectile in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that theconduit has diameters, which continuously change over its length.
 6. Thecartridge case projectile in accordance with claim 1, characterized inthat the penetrator core has predetermined core breaking areas, whichadjoin the predetermined casing breaking areas.
 7. The cartridge caseprojectile in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that theshattering penetrator is designed in such a way that a predetermined tipbreaking area is formed at the back end of the penetrator tip.
 8. Thecartridge case projectile in accordance with claim 1, characterized inthat the penetrator casing is put together from several casing elements.9. The cartridge case projectile in accordance with claim 8,characterized in that the casing elements are directly connected witheach other, for example by a screwed connection, soldering, gluing,compression or crimping.
 10. The cartridge case projectile in accordancewith claim 8, characterized in that the casing elements are indirectlyconnected with each other by means of the cartridge casing.
 11. Thecartridge case projectile in accordance with claim 1, characterized inthat the casing elements are made from identical materials, inparticular metallic materials, for example, steel, brass or bronze. 12.The cartridge case projectile in accordance with claim 1, characterizedin that the plastic material from which the penetrator core is made is ahighly heat-resistant plastic material, which is filled, with one of thefillers selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, glass beads,carbon fibers, powdered mineral rock, chips, and powder.
 13. Thecartridge case projectile in accordance with claim 1, characterized inthat the conduit has diameters, which discontinuously change over itslength.
 14. The cartridge case projectile in accordance with claim 9,characterized in that the casing elements are indirectly connected witheach other by means of the cartridge casing.
 15. The cartridge caseprojectile in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the casingelements are made from different materials, in particular metallicmaterials, for example, steel, brass or bronze.